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Devin Shore looks to shoulder more for Stars

Healthy after surgery, Dallas prospect aims to follow lead of teammate Radek Faksa

by
Steve Hunt
/ NHL.com correspondent

FRISCO, Texas -- Center Devin Shore is looking to channel his inner Radek Faksa, and that's a good thing for the Dallas Stars prospect.

That's because Shore, 21, the Stars' second-round pick (No. 61) in the 2012 NHL Draft, is coming off one eventful season in the organization.

After a strong start with Texas of the American Hockey League last fall, Shore earned a promotion to Dallas in early November. He made his NHL debut Nov. 3 at the Boston Bruins and played two more games for the Stars before returning to the AHL.

On Dec. 11 against Charlotte, Shore sustained a shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery. He had 15 goals and 26 points in 23 AHL games.

"Definitely a roller coaster," Shore said. "It was a lot of fun, a lot of firsts. It was my first full year as a pro. Looking back on it, it was obviously unfortunate, that bounce I got in December, but I try to take as many positives as I can out of it."

Shore spent this week at Stars headquarters alongside many fellow prospects for the organization's annual development camp, an exercise he already has participated in several times.

With his shoulder healed, he figures testing it in such a familiar setting is a good thing.

"Realistically, if you have to get a shoulder surgery, getting it in December of your first year as a pro isn't necessarily a bad thing," Shore said. "You get it taken care of early, and now it feels fantastic. I feel 100 percent now, so I have the rest of the summer to get it into game shape."

Last summer, Faksa attended Stars development camp coming off a similar procedure, and the forward from the Czech Republic became a regular with Dallas, scoring 12 points in 45 regular-season games and five points, including a goal in his Stanley Cup Playoff debut, in 13 postseason games.

Shore is hoping to experience a similar resurgence this season.

"This surgery is unfortunately a little too common, but in a good way I don't have to look too far to talk to guys who have been through it before," Shore said. "[Faksa] and I talked a good amount about it. He's a perfect example. He put in the work, he didn't let his confidence waver, he was patient, he started in the American league and waited for his opportunity.

"He's definitely kind of the model I'd like to follow, for sure. If you told me my surgery goes the way that his does, I'll take that in a heartbeat."

Stars general manager Jim Nill wanted to see how Shore's shoulder responded during the weeklong camp, but Nill, who has been in Dallas since April 2013, also wanted to see something else from Shore this week.

"This is his third year, I think, [in development camp], so he's kind of a veteran," Nill said. "He's a leader. I talk about everyday-ers. He's an everyday guy. He does everything right, so it's good to have him here."

No matter how many of these camps he has attended, the goal never changes for Shore or his fellow prospects; keep improving in every aspect of the game.

That was the focus this time around, but now that he has experienced life in the NHL, and specifically what sort of two-way players Stars coach Lindy Ruff expects every member of his roster to be, becoming more effective is a high priority for Shore at camp.

"You realize it [your two-way game] can always be better," Shore said. "[Playing] 200-foot hockey is something that I've honestly [always] taken a ton of pride in. You're not going to get sent out there in crucial points [of games] if you're not trusted in your own end. I think it's good that I can be trusted at wing or center."

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